Matt Ericksen, assistant engineer with the Alabama Department of Transportation’s southern region, said the eastbound lane of the Cochran-Africantown Bridge was expected to reopen to traffic by 10:30 a.m., but a timeline for reopening the westbound lane has not been established. In addition, Ericksen said:

Two ramps onto the Interstate 10 Bayway (Exits 30 and 35) are also closed, and likely won’t reopen until later today.

One lane on I-165 is also closed

Motorists should be cautious while driving on the interstate because roads could very well refreeze later today if temperatures drop around dusk.

ALDOT’s southern region should return to “normal operations” around noon, at which time crews will travel around the area assessing damaged roads.

Barbara Shaw, spokeswoman with the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System, said crews are already out responding to problems involving busted water pipes.

A 4-inch water pipe broke on Burger Road this morning, and crews were on site and making repairs, she said.

“We’ve got crews responding to customer calls, mostly requests to cut their water off because of broken pipes,” Shaw said. “We’ve had a handful of calls regarding no water.”

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson is expected to provide an update on storm recovery efforts later in the day.

“We will start working on a preliminary damage assessment this afternoon,” city of Mobile spokesman George Talbot said.

As of 10 a.m., Alabama reported 6,700 customers without power across the region, but only about 100 were in the Mobile area.

Elsewhere across the area, businesses began reopening doors to customers with Bel Air Mall slated to resume operations at 10 a.m. and both Mobile Regional Airport and the Alabama State Port Authority’s public seaport and rail terminals expected to come back online at noon.

For a complete list of what's open and what's closed, click here, including government services, businesses and more. Please send your closures to mobilenews@al.com to be added to the listing.

The roads:

The Alabama Department of Public Safety and the Alabama Department of Transportation are urging motorists to check the conditions of Alabama's state and federal highways on the Road Conditions page on ALDOT's website,www.dot.state.al.us.

The number for the ALDOT Emergency Call Center is 1-888-588-2848.

For help:

Emergency shelters are open.

The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama at 1009 Dauphin St. in Mobile will remain open through this morning and provide breakfast, coffee and water to anyone who stops by during emergency operations, according to a news release from the organization.

The Salvation Army has asked for donations of hot chocolate, coffee, water and food to help deal with the expected influx of people using their services in the coming days. Monetary donations are also being solicited.

The Mobile Rescue Mission, a ministry of the Pensacola-based Waterfront Rescue Mission, is also open at 206 State St. in Mobile.

School closings

Teachers and school children in the Mobile-area public systems, Catholic schools and most private schools learned Wednesday that previously announced classes would be canceled for Thursday. Schools in Clarke and Washington counties will be closed as well.

Initially, Mobile County school officials had told 12-month employees to report to work on Thursday but later reversed course and said principals, maintenance and transportation personnel would not have to report to work until Friday.

The Satsuma Board of Education canceled its regular meeting scheduled for Thursday. The next meeting will take place Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.

The University of Mobile canceled day classes for Thursday but announced night classes would go on as normally scheduled. Administrative offices will open at noon.

The University of South Alabama offices, meanwhile, will reopen at 1 p.m. Thursday. Normal class schedules will resume at 4:30 p.m. South Dr. between Mitchell Center Dr. and the Traffic Circle, as well as, Stadium Blvd. from Old Shell Road to the Traffic Circle were closed overnight and expected to re-open this morning when conditions allowed.

Fortis College officials said they would reopen administrative offices on the Pleasant Valley campus Thursday morning, tentatively set for 10 a.m., and classes would resume at night.

City and County employees

All nonessential city and Mobile County government workers should stay home Thursday, according to authorities. The weather prompted officials to grant an extension to Mobile County residents whose car tags expire this month.

Wave Transit officials announced Wednesday afternoon that city bus service would remain closed Thursday. Officials said they anticipate resuming normal service on Friday.

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